With Election Day just three days away, we're talking about voting!

Today, we'll bring you an update on early voting turnout and walk through some basics about how to vote, why to do it, and where to find the information you need. We'll also hear from folks who are out talking with voters and potential voters about why they cast their ballot — and why some choose not to.

But first, it's time to respond to your feedback with a special Monday edition of our @ us! segment.

Guests:

This episode was produced by Steve Haruch.

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Why do so many people ignore or avoid the Cumberland River? And how have perceptions — and access to our winding river — changed?

In this episode, we dive into how feelings about our river are rapidly changing, thanks in part to a rise in paddling and boating outfitters, as well as the fresh eyes of newly arriving transplants (and developers). We'll hear from avid paddlers about their experiences. We'll also unpack some misconceptions and talk about the surge in new ideas for our riverfront.

WPLN's interim news director, Tony Gonzalez, starts the show by sharing the latest on the revitalization plan for the Rock Harbor Marina in West Nashville. And stick around for an adventure story, paddling the river from Shelby Bottoms to downtown Nashville with Cumberland Kayak.

Guests:

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This episode was produced by Tony Gonzalez. 

Giving birth costs an average of $18,885 nationwide before insurance. If you have a medical emergency, you can expect to spend hundreds on your ambulance ride — and that doesn’t even include the cost of the medical care itself. In fact, medical debt is the leading type of debt on credit cards in the U.S.

But… if you live with disabilities or chronic illnesses, those medical costs are significantly higher. On top of that, the sacrifices you might make in order to afford the medical care can come at the cost of one’s social life, or even basic needs.

Today, we’ll hear from disabled Nashvillians and their caregivers about the cost of care, financial and beyond.

But first, WPLN’s education reporter Alexis Marshall joins us to talk about her in-depth reporting on Tennessee’s 3rd grade retention law.

This episode was produced by Elizabeth Burton.

Special thanks to Tom Jedlowski, Leisa Hammett, Tyler Samuel and Cathlyn Smith. 

On August 3rd, voters will decide who they want their next mayor and council members to be. But they’ll also cast their vote for vice mayor. It’s a job that flies under the radar for many Nashvillians. So what, exactly, does the vice mayor do, and how would the candidates for vice mayor approach the job?

We’ll answer those questions in this Citizen Nashville episode all about Nashville’s vice mayor. We’ll get insights about the role from a former vice mayor, and hear from both candidates seeking the office, incumbent vice mayor Jim Shulman and district 34 council member Angie Henderson, who have vastly different ideas of how they’d approach the role.

Guests:

This episode was produced by Char Daston.

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And it’s projected that in 20 years, urban growth might extend a trip to Chattanooga or Memphis by an hour. One potential solution to stem this congestion is creating more Amtrak passenger lines between Tennessee cities, as well as major regional hubs like Atlanta, Chicago and Louisville.

For now, commuter rail is more of an idea than a reality in Nashville, with one exception: the WeGo Star, which shuttles passengers between downtown Nashville and Lebanon during peak hours. WeGo is currently soliciting public comment on the Star, which could lead to changes in service.

Transportation is a frequent complaint from Nashville citizens, and several mayoral candidates are proposing rail as a solution to alleviate traffic. In this episode we’ll learn more about these proposals and hear from citizens and experts alike on what they want for the future of rail in Tennessee.

And we kick off the show with an update from WPLN political reporter Blaise Gainey, who has covered the latest Amtrak study.

Guests:

This episode was produced by Magnolia McKay.

A new music video from country singer Jason Aldean has created quite the buzz. It places his song, “Try That In A Small Town,” amid scenes of riots and police encounters, and critics are flagging its racist tropes. Nashville Public Radio's senior music writer Jewly Hight joins us to unpack the video.

Then, we're bringing back a timeless episode from April 2022 that answers the questions: who is country music for? And who decides?

Guests:

This episode was produced by Steve Haruch.

Some of the most exciting research in astronomy is happening right here in Nashville.

A little more than a year ago, NASA released the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope. One of the first approved studies using this imagery was led by Vanderbilt professor Keivan Stassun, who is searching for Earth-like planets with NASA's TESS Exoplanet Mission. And just weeks ago, a groundbreaking study demonstrating how gravitational waves permeate the universe was published by a team led by another Vanderbilt astrophysicist, Stephen Taylor.

In this episode, we'll talk with these two scientists and meet some of the new generation of astronomers coming up the ranks. Plus, host Khalil Ekulona asks a few locals what they think of extraterrestrial life.

But first, we talk with WPLN environmental reporter Caroline Eggers about light pollution in Nashville and how new streetlights could help make the night sky darker — and better for stargazing.

Guests:

This episode was produced by Steve Haruch.

Further reading:

Some are turning to men’s groups as a resource. In these groups, they find brotherhood, support and judgment-free spaces to talk about things that come up in life. From relationships to fatherhood, career stress to spirituality — opening up and talking to other men can be transformative. Today, we invite leaders of local men’s groups on to talk about masculinity and what it means for them to get together in this way.

But first, we address listener feedback in our @ Us! segment with senior producer, Steve Haruch.

Guests:

This episode was produced by Magnolia McKay.

What’s allowed to be built in my neighborhood? Can I build a second unit on my property? How can I make sure new construction will benefit my community and not harm it? The answers to these questions all come back to the city’s zoning code — more than 200 pages describing what kinds of buildings can be built where, what they can look like, and how to get special permission to build something different.

In this episode, we sit down with a city official to answer your questions about zoning in Nashville. We also hear about a class from Neighbor 2 Neighbor that teaches the basics of zoning and land use policy to anyone who wants to know more.

But first, WPLN midday news producer Cynthia Abrams fills us in on the latest updates in the Nashville mayoral race.

This episode was produced by Char Daston and Elizabeth Burton.

Guests:

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His legacy includes pastoring The Church at Mt. Carmel, ministering to his neighborhood through events and summer camps, and starting the Gentlemen And Not Gangsters (GANG) program that works with the juvenile court system to help at-risk youth.

His impact in the community was great. Today we speak with his loved ones and those who worked alongside him to celebrate the man, and talk about his legacy.

But first, WPLN healthcare reporter Catherine J. Sweeney joins us to talk about her reporting on breaches in healthcare data in Nashville.

Guests:

This episode was produced by Magnolia McKay.

Click here to donate to the Marcus Campbell Family.